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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 1043.PDF
FLIGHT, NOVEMBER 23, 1933 INSTRUCTION : A sergeant teach ing airmen to suspend bombs in the racks under the nose of a " Vir ginia." (FLIGHT Photo.) The terms on which a Special Reserve commission is granted are that the officer must spend one month in residence on the station, though he is allowed to spend up to six months. During his residence he receives the pay and allowances of his rank. In his first year and a half with the squadron he must do 183 days' work with them, and after that at least 20 instructional parades a year. He must also go each year on the 14 days' training in camp, which is usually held at Manston. This year the camp was held from July 9 to 22, during which time the squadron formed part of the forces of Southland in the Air Exercises Administratively, No. 502 (Ulster) (Bomber) Squadron belongs to the Western Area, which forms part of the Command, Air """**•-»-—...,.. Defence of Great Britain. The Special Reserve airmen also do one month's initial training on the station, during which they are paid. There are also a number, usually eight, week-ends in the year for which pay is given. The airmen, too, must attend the annual camp at Manston or elsewhere. They can come out and work in the squadron any day except Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Wednes day afternoons there are compulsory games. It is neces sary to have ^ime off in the middle of the week for the sake of the regular personnel, as they are obliged to work hard during the week-ends. It is naturally at the week ends that the Special Reserve officers and men come out in force to Aldergrove, and then the regulars have to be on duty in full strength. Nearly all the Special Reserve personnel come from Bel fast, though some officers come from other parts of the Six Counties which constitute Northern Ireland. The adjutant always has a waiting list of men who want to join as airmen, and he is therefore able to pick and choose. Belfast is full of good mechanics, and so the Special Re serve airmen are a very competent lot. Generally the squadron does not accept unemployed men. They might conceivably join for motives other than keenness on the work of the squadron. Also it does not as a rule take men who have served in the Royal Air Force. They have already been trained and would be available for the ser vice of the country in time of need. A Cadre squadron, it is held, should train men who have had no Service train ing before. The aim is to train the Special Reserve men up to the standard of the regulars. The two classes of airmen are mixed in the headquarters of the squadron and work side by side. In the two flights they are separate, except where senior regular Warrant Officers and N.C.O.'s keep an eye on the work done in " B " flight. The S.R. airmen are allowed to pick the trade which they wish to follow, when they enlist. Most of them stick to the trade which they follow in civil life, if it is applic- THE BANKS OF LOUGH NEAGH : Three Vickers " Virginias " (twin " Lions ") of No. 502 (Ulster) (Bomber) Squadron in formation above the great lough, by whose shores lies Aldergrove Aerodrome. (FLIGHT Photo.) 1167
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